There are people who just have jobs; there are people who consider themselves businesspeople and what they do more is than just a job.

There are people who are always negative with their thoughts; there are people who always think in a very positive way.

To be a successful businessperson you need to think in a different way.

You can’t think of obstacles and challenges in the workplace as something terrible. You can’t always be exclaiming to yourself: Oh no! I can’t believe (fill in the blank) is happening to me!

Instead, you need to embrace those obstacles and challenges.

Say to yourself: What is in the way of being successful? What do I need to do to knock down those obstacles?

Always think to yourself: What’s the solution?

Never let a business problem hang over your head. Always think about what your options are. Find a solution. Solve the problem. Go onto the next challenge.

Remember: If you don’t have things that get in your way of success… If you don’t have obstacles to overcome, you probably aren’t being challenged enough with current business goals or doing enough to grow a segment of the business. Instead, you’re just moving along with whatever comes your way – and not earning the money you’d really like to earn!

When you’re in business, you can expect problems. All kinds of problems – sales, marketing, employee relations, operations, etc. What you need to ask yourself is: Are these normal issues a businessperson faces? Or… Are these problems created because I’m being the leader I have the potential to be?

Leaders lead.

Leaders don’t let obstacles and challenges get in their way. Leaders don’t get upset when something gets in the way of success. They find a way around it. How? By analyzing the business situation. Looking at the issue from all different sides. Putting a plan of action in motion to solve the problem, no matter how big or small.

The key is to make sure you never have that obstacle again. But if you do happen to encounter it again, it will be familiar to you and you’ll know how to proactively handle it quickly.

Business obstacles are a pathway to success. That’s why it important to understand the obstacles you face in business daily. Eagerly anticipate obstacles. Dealing with a problem before it becomes a problem bigger than you would prefer to handle or spend time on.

When you walk into the office in the morning, do you manage to get to your desk before someone is walking up to you with a business problem, saying: You won’t believe what happened! So what do you do?

A leader calmly listens to what the co-worker has to say. Then reassures everything is under control; that it’s not a problem. Encourages everyone involved to think things through.

This displays confidence. It demonstrates how you can deal with anything that may come along in the business day. People want to work with other people who have a positive, informed outlook on how to deal with business issues. That’s what brings success to you and everyone working at the company.

Always think of yourself, no matter what happens, as a winner not a loser. Strive to be your best in business. Do everything the right way. Do not let a business problem stop you from getting to where you want to be. Always know where it is you want to go. That’s how you avoid business obstacles getting in your way.

Ask yourself every business day:

Where do I want to go with the business day?

Remember: Take care of the day. The day takes care of the week. The week takes care of the month. The month takes care of the quarter. Each quarter takes care of the year.

All you need to do is know where you are going for business success to happen.

Obstacles? Bring them on!

Another businessperson may be slowed down, upset, even devastated when problems and challenges arise unexpectedly in the day. But you, being a leader, always have the confidence to directly take on those obstacles and view it as an opportunity.

Howard Lewinter is a business expert – strategist – business advisor to CEOs, presidents and business owners across a wide variety of industries throughout the United States. Follow Howard on Twitter: @HowardLewinter or connect with Howard on LinkedIn. Visit Howard’s website and blog: www.TalkBusinessWithHoward.com. There isn’t anything Howard likes better than to see business people succeed and prosper.